Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

Robert Hook — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:53:52 GMT

In addition to Jan's add-in please note you can find a sample included in the MicroStation V8i MDL SDK showing how to implement a SymbolProvider (similar to Jan’s example) located here: ..\dotnet\examples\NamedExprTest

HTH,
Bob

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

Jan Šlegr — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 04:34:36 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="benias81"]Would it be possible to get the source code as well?[/quote]

No. I released this SymbolProvider several years ago as freeware, so right now it's closed solution. I thought already to put it as open source to e.g. GitHub, but because of total lack of time it will not happen soon. The development is based on playing with a code without detail documentation, so before such migration will happen, I want to be sure the code is correct ... and personally I have also to be clear I really want to open and share my not small invested effort and time ;-)

[quote user="benias81"]Also, is there a good resource that teaches how to build your own named expressions?[/quote]

As far as I know there is no documentation and SymbolProvider API is not a part of standard MicroStation API, there are only functions to work with existing providers and expressions. I did my testing and research based on notes from BDN conference several years ago (I guess it was 2008), I don't know about any other. So if you are BDN member, you should have access to the materials.

I have no problem to add or modify the functionality if there will be valuable request and enough time to implement it, as I already did with some my other free tools in the past.

With regards,

Jan

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

benias81 — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 20:57:11 GMT

Thank you for providing this. It looks like exactly what i have been looking for. Would it be possible to get the source code as well?

Also, is there a good resource that teaches how to build your own named expressions? I cant seem to find anything on the topic other than that you can do it and examples of how to use ones that are already existing.

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

rpsmith — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:58:48 GMT

Thanks Jan - we will check it out!

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

Jan Šlegr — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 04:54:50 GMT

Hi Regan,

I found some free time and updated a project I played with a few years ago. A resuilt is an attached symbol provider library with the required functionality:

Please be aware it's a freeware without any warranty or support provided.

With regards,

Jan

communities.bentley.com/.../LabTechSymbolProvider_2D00_0.8.2.0.zip

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

benias81 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 20:02:20 GMT

We have created a series of buttons located in the task bar that import the desired sheet size to aid in the adaptation of the sheet space environment. We have hundreds of thousands of files and we needed a method that made the process as quick as possible.

The issue we are trying to address is how to prevent multiple sheets with tags from being imported into the same DGN? The importing is going to happen while we are in the default model so searching active model for sheet is not going to get us there. I also don't want to use config variables to drive this because there is a chance that paper sizes will change and I need the test that checks for existing sheet spaces to be more dynamic.

Granted there might be a better way of approaching all of this, but this is what we have landed on as an organization. So for the time being the question I have is it possible to check the entire file to determine if either a sheet exists or maybe even a tag set?

Thanks for all the replys!

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

Gerald Piotrowski — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:45:07 GMT

Well if you are using sheet models just put a hide/show test on the task/button to check if the active model is a sheet. Then if it is False it will hide the buttons in a all models other than a sheet model.

If you are using ProjectWise and title block integration, wouldn't you see if you had title block data in the sheet file, because it would auto populate the tag set with the information from PW? If that is the case then where would the confusion come from?

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

benias81 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:55:59 GMT

The scenario I am trying to solve is as follows. We are finally getting around to utilizing sheets and adding tags to track the title block information within projectwise. I would like to be able to check if a sheet is already present and if "true" hide the buttons that import new sheets into the dgn in order to avoid having two sheets with tags in the dgn and causing confusion for the users.

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

Jan Šlegr — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 05:45:32 GMT

Hi Regan,

[quote user="benias81"]I wonder why they don't have an expression that checks the active file for a sheet model? [/quote]

In my opinion your question makes no sense if formulated this way and is not constructive at all. If you think there is a valuable reason why such Named Expression should be added to MicroStation, provide some workflow or a description of situation (scenario) how it would be used. I am quite curious how you would like to use such Name Expression (my assumption is it would be something like DoesSheetExistInActiveFile(string sheetName) returning true/false).

I guess Named Expressions are treated to be designed to work with current session information, not with anything existing elsewhere. This seems to me more like general concept, not technical limitation. And it's possible to create own Symbol Provider with own Named Expressions.

With regards,

Jan

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

DavidG — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 23:34:13 GMT

[quote user="benias81"]Seems like this feature would have multiple applications including printing.[/quote]

Why not just use print organizer? It will find all your sheet models for printing.

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

benias81 — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:58:09 GMT

I wonder why they don't have an expression that checks the active file for a sheet model? Seems like this feature would have multiple applications including printing.

RE: Is there a Named Expression to check for a specific sheet name?

Gerald Piotrowski — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 21:26:26 GMT

This will returen true if the active model type is a sheet and the model name is "BorderSheet"
(Session.ActiveModelTypeIsSheet() and ActiveModel.Name="BorderSheet")

But I do not know of any way for a named expression to loop through all the models in a file. You may have to write a custom vba to run the named expression on each model.

HTH,
Gerald Piotrowski